chaucerettescs

Haha, ugh, I just graduated from UMich and so I still get alerts/English department bulletins on pretty much a daily basis. I have a tiny heart attack EVERY.TIME.

Oh, geez, see I was told our FAFSA is completely unrelated to the funding package departments offer us? Now I'm paranoid I submitted too late.

Yeah, I'm applying to the school where I just earned my BA and my rec writers/professors told me point blank that it is going to be even harder for me to get in. I think the academic incest argument is a bit ridiculous (the thing that might save me is that I only spent the last two years of my BA at Michigan), but I understand that I could get tossed for that alone. I wouldn't even assume a full rejection from your alma mater means you won't get in anywhere else.

When I was a baby and used to take my mom's books off the shelves and become very upset that I couldn't understand the words.

Haha, well, he did say that it is intermittence that seduces (that flash of skin between two edges of fabric, that place where the garment gapes) so maybe 50 Shades would be too much flash, not enough edge for him.

Haha, it's only an online audit, so it isn't really like a normal classroom experience. However, I've met him a few times in person and have friends who studied with him at Michigan. He is a pretty difficult grader and can be a bit of egoist, but definitely has the brilliance to back himself up. Some of his analyses are a touch too traditional for me, but I'm interested in the collaborative projects he's working on like The Genre Evolution Project.

Haha, it really does. Studying for it is frustrating, especially when we each have our own subconcentrations (and that is what is expected of us). You just have to hope your version of the exam matches up. I'm a Victorianist/genre studies student and my copy of the exam was nearly all about Medieval lit and 20th century poetry. I got by fine, but I spent the whole test period swearing under my breath.

I'm familiar with The Running Man, but have not actually read it. I've heard the premise is similar and that Stephen King himself has made the comparison (though I know he's a fan of The Hunger Games), so I'd be really interested in reading it. It's interesting. The writing was indeed a little more difficult to overlook the second time 'round, but, in weird ways, I appreciated the story itself more. The first time around, I strongly disliked Mockingjay, but the second time... I appreciated it more. It's still uncomfortably rushed (I sincerely think it will make a better [2] film), but I like how it doesn't make any of the conflicts or resolutions easy for its characters. I don't want to be a jerk and post spoilers on here, so I'll just say that I like how it addresses problems I've had with other YA series that deal with war/a revolution. Basically, how it acknowledges that even victories in these situations can have serious psychological ramifications and that if you're reading the series just for the love triangle or just to see some glorious revolution led by children, you're missing the point of the series. That said... yeah, I'm still not crazy about the writing. My issue has less to do with style, though, and more to do with the lack of real world-building. This is interesting speculative fiction! Let us dwell a moment!

Just re-read The Hunger Games triology. Re-reading Through the Looking-Glass and Dracula for Eric Rabkin's Coursera class. Also reading Les Misèrables and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. I am juggling big time.

Oof, my confidence is nil today. This afternoon I sat in on a class (I'm doing an guest lecture for them later this month) and when the prof introduced me and said that I'm "headed to grad school" I felt like such a SHAM, haha. Like, "Ahhh, I don't know that yet!" The prof was very surprised that so many schools have been sending out decisions this early. She did say a couple of the schools I mentioned that have already sent out notices had staff freezes this year (meaning they didn't have to deal with hiring decisions before grad decisions). I'm really hoping that doesn't mean it's going to be another couple of weeks before Michigan's decisions.

So, per a couple of professors advice, I e-mailed several of the programs I applied to, asking if it was possible to send in an updated CV (mine has improved significantly over the last month, plus I graduated with my final GPA) and I got two responses today. Naturally, I had a heart attack when I saw "Graduate Admissions" in the subject line of anything in my inbox, but I digress. University of Michigan wrote back saying, at this point, an update isn't possible (decisions imminent?), but Duke (!) wrote back and is allowing me to send in a copy. I just resigned myself to Duke's assumed rejection, but now I'm a mess of emotions again.

Glen Coco deserves four times as much.

Haha, it's not that they would raise eyebrows at Michigan's program. Michigan is excellent through and through and I would return there in a heartbeat. The English Department is amazing. It's just that I spent the last two years of my BA there and some people (potential employers) don't like it when all your degrees come from the same university. Or so I've been told.

Haha, at this point I don't care if going to Michigan will make people raise eyebrows at me. If it will have me, I will gladly return to its loving embrace (not holding my breath, though). And I haven't had a chance to read any tea leaves lately, ya dig?

I think Michigan said decisions will be in early March, but I'm hoping for much sooner than that.

WHY WOULD YOU SAY THIS? Actually, I wouldn't mind so much at this point. One day, quick like a band-aid. I hate this purgatory.

I feel you, Lilo. I feel you.

Same. I'm very, very upset about Duke, so I'm still crossing my fingers out of sheer, mindless hope.

Haha, thank you! That would make sense. Can't tell I'm freaking out, can you? Still saying "Decision Not Ready."

Where are people checking their Duke applications? On the Apply Yourself site?

True! I should have noted that.

I know this is late, but for anyone out there interested in these fields for next year's round of apps, the University of Michigan has a lot of really great resources for fantasy/science fiction, first and foremost being Eric Rabkin who teaches fantasy and/or sci-fi just about every semester, runs the fantasy/sci-fi book group on campus, and is doing some all around amazing stuff: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~esrabkin/ Michigan also has a lot of profs who teach courses where you can get good doses of fantasy and sci-fi like Lisa Makman, who teaches children's literature courses, and Gina Brandolino, who teaches a couple classes on fantasy/horror. I've also had a lot of professors here who were generally very cool about letting me flex my fantasy/sci-fi/horror muscles (as they are some of my sub-specializations). This year I wrote research papers on post-structuralist reader response in the Harry Potter fandom, the influence of Moby-Dick on sci-fi horror film, and the use of fairy tale imagery in Charlotte Brontë and George Eliot, all for classes that were distinctly NOT geared towards fantasy or sci-fi. Genre studies students in general often have pretty slim pickings when it comes to choosing programs/courses, but, if nothing else, Michigan has a really great atmosphere that will grant you some leeway.

This is weighing heavily on my mind, as I'm applying to Michigan where I recently completed my BA. It's one of my top choices as it's one of the best fits for my interests and the only reason I'm daring to try is because I was a transfer student (I spent two years at a community college for financial reasons and clawed my way into Michigan by virtue of my grades). Since I was only at Michigan for two years, I certainly didn't have the opportunity to work with all the professors I wanted to, including many in my subfields. I was pretty explicit about this in my Personal Statement for Michigan. However, as much as I want Michigan and know it to be an ideal fit, I'm paranoid about what it might do to my chances on the job market if I did also earn my PhD there. Ugggh.